found it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0&feature=fvst

 

 

lol,i couldnt resist....

 

Great link. Thanks for sharing it.

 

I've seen a Datsun 810/Maxima up at Temple University several times a few months ago.

 

thats the common one that everyone has, a Datsun 810 with Datsun, Nissan, and Maxima badging. The Datsun 810 Deluxe had no Maxima badging hence it wasnt really a Maxima, but we're all wondering if thats true

 

Hi Guys, I just joined the forum to answer this questions. I owned a 910/810 "Deluxe" and have seen others. Mine was a very early production wagon. The serial number was 000161. I say serial number because it was produced before the requirement for the 17 digit VIN.

It was very much a base model. It didn't even have power steering. Crank windows, manual side mirror only on the driver's door. Manual door locks 5 speed stick shift. Did not say Maxima on the rear hatch. It had steel wheels with a small, true, hubcap. I bought it second hand in the mid 1980s and sold in in the early 1990s.

I have also seen one other one also a wagon. Mine was silver the other one was that butt ugly salmon color.

When the 910 was introduced in the fall of 1980 as a 1981 model it was sold as the 810. The Maxima designation was for the option package that basically included every conceivable option. If memory serves it even included the sun roof. To my knowledge the term "deluxe" was only used in the brochure. It did not appear on the 810 that I owned nor do I recall seeing it on the other wagon I saw. It was just the 810 and the 810 Maxima.

There were very very few base models made. But they did exist. At that time the demand for Japanese cars exceeded supply. Gas prices had basically doubled that year and dealers could sell every Datsun they got. The demand was so high, it was common for dealers to actually sell cars above sticker price. If you weren't willing to pay the premium, no Datsun for you.

The Maxima was a fantastic bargain at the time. So they were very easy to sell. There was a lot more profit in the Maxima so dealers simply didn't order the base model. Nissan probably knew this before the car was officially introduced and quickly dropped the base model. At that point the only way you could get an 810 is with all the options and the Maxima as we know it was born.

- Pete

 

 

Sorry to post this here, but I am new to the forum and I've had some difficulty finding the proper place. I figured since there is some reference to the 1981s, someone here would know.

It's a bit silly, but I've had some trouble finding the freakin' fuel filter on my '81 Maxima wagon. It's got the straight six, fuel injection, etc that it seems 90 percent of these cars have/had.

I'd like some good specifics, right side, left side, in front of fuel tank, behind it, so on and so forth.

Any help appreciated!

 

Pete,
Thanks for chiming in. I knew that someone out there would know. Good to know that they did not have a "Deluxe" badge, as well. My 810 Maxima was built in Dec 1980 and is serial #004843. We will throw old Max a 30th birthday party in a few months.

 

It's in the engine compartment held by a bracket. It should be easy to spot if you just follow the hose from the fuel injector rail back. There will be two hose, a feed hose and a return hose. Follow the feed hose.

- Pete

 

Yours probably doesn't have the 17 digit VIN either. That requirement didn't kick in until January 1, 1981. Does the VIN start L910 or something like that?

There was some discussion about the Diesel Maxima. They were introduced half year 1981 as an '81.5 model. To my knowledge they were all Maxima. They had all the Maxima features but did have a different instrument cluster. The diesels didn't have a tachometer. I had the opportunity to drive one for awhile. It was as slow as molasses. A real dog.

- Pete

 

I said that on the first page. And you had to be an ******* about it.

 

No, My VIN is a 17 digit and it follows the new pattern: JN1HUO....

 

My apologies, your honorable Hectic. You provided no basis for your "knowledge" and your reply was not thorough enough to make your reply sound credible. Pete’s reply showed actual recollected knowledge which makes the rest of us pay attention. I wish you would have taken an extra moment to explain how you knew or recalled your knowledge, then we would have taken your comment more seriously.

 

Big deal if I didn't explain step by step (and day by day) how I knew. You're the one who made this thread asking questions, and I responded with the almighty "knowledge" (don't know why you put that in quotations considering nobody said it). Did you want my life story or something? And what's with this "us" and "we" talk. Speak for yourself there, you're the only one who seemed to have a problem with my (accurate) responses.

 

I don't know if anybody from this thread is still alive? Hello??? Just wanted to add that I owned a 1981 Datsun 810 Wagon with a 5-speed tranny. Not a maxima. It had steel wheels and regular carpet, none of the maxima bling, just a nice station wagon. I'll have to look to see if I have any pics. I didn't realize this was controversial. Anyway, I NEVER saw another one, ever, although the parts counter guy told me that he had. (Liar?) I have no idea where it came from, I bought it used from an older guy who used it to pull his small boat trailer around. The entire time I owned it, the only repair it needed was a fi rail clean. I never even added freon to the A/C, which worked perfectly. I owned it from 1983 until about 1990, although it hadn't been driven in a year or so. (Still ran perfectly, I just had too many kids to fit in it and ended up adding an Astro van to the stable for the DD.) At the time, it was very very fast. Sure wish I had it back.

 

Thanks for posting this. I just sold my ’81 810 Maxima early this year. It had finally rotted away beyond being safe. My grandpa bought it new and I drove it for the last 13 years.

Anyway, it is good to hear from you on this because I still wonder about it. Your experience is good because you had one at a time when they were nearly new. I hunted for an 810 Deluxe from 1999-2012, but that was when most were long gone. The fact that you owned one but never saw another one suggest that they were rare but real. My theory: The Maxima was so popular and was more profitable, so the dealership and Nissan HQ ordered very few Deluxe models to be built. If you really wanted one, you had to wait a long time for the few Deluxe cars built. Heck…it wouldn’t surprise me if they dropped the Deluxe in the middle of the model year to focus orders on the Maxima.

Of course....I would love to see a photo of your car!

I will continue to follow this thread.

 

I'll look for some pictures. I vaguely recall having of few of me with my son washing it when he was a toddler. (He's 26 now.)

I was overjoyed when I found this one, not because it was unusual, but because it was a manual and because it wasn't a maxima, both of which made it a lot cheaper than what the 3-4 year old Maxima's were selling for; for me this was the difference between being able to afford it or not. ($8,000 I am pretty sure.) It was like new when we brought it home, and it aged very well other than the screw holes for the roof rack rusting out. I eventually removed it, tried to wire brush the holes down to bare metal, and then filled them with fiberglass and epoxy.

I haven't thought about this stuff in years. :-) It was definitely one of my three favorites of all that I've owned. (Along with a 1969 Z/28 bought in 1974 and a 1964 VW Campmobile bought in 1978.)